Hydrocarbon burner



Oct. 30, 1928.

G. B. JOHNSON HYDROCARBON BURNER Filed June 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5002" 917 Jizzsm WW j E 7 WW it mrpgy 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ......i.i 1 N I 'j uxmmmi G. B. JOHNSON HYDROCARBON BURNER Filed June 24, 1927 HITH'II HLLLHIILUHTE Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

UNITED s'r 'rEs NT Fries.

GEUBGLE B. EUHIBTMJN, 0F EVANSTGN, ILLINQlth.

maoeamson BURNER.

Application flledlune a, 1927. seriaino. 201,158.

This invention relates to hydro-carbon burners, and more particularly to an apparatus wherein .fuel oil' may be vaporized and mixed with air in the proper proportions, without the decomposition of the oil into its hydrogen and carbon elements so as to avoid the deposition of carbon in the vaporizer and so as to enable the fuel mix-- ture to bugn completely without residue.

In general terms,.the apparatus includes a retort or vaporizer to which the oil is fed in quantities which vary according to thedegree of heat required at the main burner.

The retortis in open communication with a signed that the heat applied to the retort by this burner will never be more than sufficient to vaporize the oil without decomposing the same. An auxiliary burner supplied from a separate source is provided for supplying additional heat to the vaporizer when necessary, this latter burner being au-- tomatically controlled by the temperature in the vaporizer.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved mixing device for combining the vaporized fuel and air, this mixing device being. in open. communication with the retort or vaporizer, without requiring an intermediate valve or atomizer.

Another object is to provide improved means for automatically regulating the heat applied to the vaporizer, such means comprising burners fed. from separate sources of supply, and subject to independent thermostatic control. Numerous other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of apparatus utilizing the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the assembled apparatus, in use. k

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the assembled apparatus, partially broken away.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. at is a horizontal section taken substantiallv on the line H of Fig. 1. w

v Fig. 5 1s a detaihview showing a portion of the oil cut-oil.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section through one end of the vaporizer.

The preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is designed particularly for installation in home-heating furnaces, for burning oil in lieu of the coal for which the furnace was originally designed. A portlon of the apparatus, including all burners, is positioned within the fire-box, while other portions of the apparatus are positioned outside of but adjacent the fur-f I nace, the connecting pipes being few-and pf small size so that they mayibe easily in stalled. The main burner may take various .fprms, and be of various sizes and proportrons, according to .the capacity of the furnace, and the space provided within thefire-.

box. As here shown, the furnace walls are indicated at 1, and the main burner comprises a plurality of pipes 2 provided with slits 3 in their upper faces. These pipes are mounted upon and are in communica:

tion with a manifold 4 which supplies the combustible mixture to the burner pipes 2. The vaporizer 5 consistsof a metallic vessel closed, except for the small oil inlet 6,

and the relatively large vapor outlet -7. Oil

is supplied to the vaporizer through a pipe 8 leading to the inletfi, this pipe being provided with suitable valves hereinafter de scribed, for controlling the amount of oil fed to the vaporizer. or pressure on the oil is necessary to insure a flow into the vaporizing chamber 5.

The mixing device comprises a chamber or pipe-fitting 9 having a plurality of branches.

one of which, 10, forms a continuation of at the outlet 7 from retort or vaporizer 5. It will be noted that this outlet 7 and pipe 10 are entirely open and unrestricted, there being no valves of any sort to control or regulate the flow of vapor or air to or from the 100 retort 5. Another branch 11 of the mixer 9 connects through suitable pipe fittings with the air pipe 12, which leads out through the furnace wall and connects with the outlet of.

Only. sufficient head i with the vertical .a suitable air fan or pump 13. The shaft 14 of the fan is connected through coupling 15 with the driving shaft of a suitable motor 16. Air under lowsuper-atmospheric pressure (for example about 4 ounces per square inch) is forced by fan 13 through the pipe 12 into the mixing chamber 9. A third branch 17 conducts the combustible mixture from mixing chamber 9 through fitting 18 and pipe 19 to the manifold 4.

The branch pipe 17 projects back over the retort 5, so that fitting 18 is positioned substantially centrally over the retort and mixer assembly. A branch pipe 20 projects horizontally from the fitting 18 and connects with the upper end of the vertical pipe 22. The auxiliary burners 24 and 25 (see Fig. 4) are formed of slit pipe sections, similar to the members 2 of the main burner, alread described. Burner pipes 24 and 25 are eac 1 closed at one end and connected at their other end through pipe sections 26 and 27 ipe 22 at such a height that the auxiliary burners 24 and 25 will be positioned horizontally beneath and adjacent to the lower side of retort or vaporizer 5. A valve casing 21, housing a butterflyvalve 23, is interposed in the vertical pipe 22. It will be noted that a portion of the combustible mixture formed in chamber 9 is conducted down through the pipe conduit 22, valve 21, and connections 26 and 27 to the auxiliary burners 24 and 25. These auxiliary burners, and the conduits leading thereto, are preferably so designed and proportioned that the heat applied to the retort by these burners will normally be approximately sufiicient, when valve 23 is open, but no more than sufficient, to vaporize the oil delivered to the retort without decomposing same.

A third auxiliary burner, comprising a perforated pipe section 28 closed at one end, is positioned midway between and parallel with the auxiliary oil burners 24, 25. Burner 28 is adapted to burn gaseous fuel from a separate source of supply. As here shown, pipe 28 leads out through the wall of furnace l and connects through the usual air intake valve 29 and suitable pipe fittings with the pipe 30 leading from the outside gas supply. A thermostatically operated control valve 31 in pipe 30 controls the flow of gas to the auxiliary burner 28. Valve 31 is controlled by a thermostat 32 which is sealed into one end of the retort 5 so that a portion of the thermostat is positioned within the retort and subject to the temperature therein. When thermostat 32 expands sufficiently it will close the valve 31, which is so adjusted that a slight flow of gas will always pass through the valve to keep burner 28 supplied sufliciently to serve as a pilot light, and also to furnish gas through the branch pipe 34 to the pilot light 35 positioned adjacent the main burner 2. The gas supply can be completely shut 011 by means of the manually operated valve 36 also positioned in pipe 30 above the thermostatically controlled valve 31.

The main control valve 37 for the oil supply is regulated by the lever 38 secured to the valve stem 39. An adjusting screw 40, adapted to contact with a stop 41, may be set to limit the closing of the valve so that sufiicient oil will always flow to the vaporizer to furnish the minimum of fuel which will keep the burners 2, 24 and 25 in operation. The valve control lever 38 may be provided with an adjustable weight 42, tending to close the valve, and for automatically controlling the valve a chain or other flexible connection 43 leads from the outer end of lever 38 to a suitably positioned thermostatic motor 44. Thermostat 44 may be adjusted, in the well known manner, so that when the temperature in the building falls below the desired minimum, the valve 37 will be opened to admit more fuel to the burners. A branch chain 45 leads from lever 38 to the control lever 46 for a damper 47 positioned in the outlet of fan 13 leading to air supply pipe 12. In this way, the amount of air delivered to the mixer 9 may be varied in accordance with the supply of oil delivered to the vaporizer 5. The oil control valve 37 may be manually operated, or any suitable type of manually operated control valve can be substituted for the automatically controlled valve here shown.

A second, automatically actuated valve 48 is provided in the oil supply line 8 for shutting off the flow of oil to the retort 5 in case the flame should be extinguished at the burners, thus permitting the combustible mixture to return to liquid form, and stopping the further vaporization of oil delivered through inlet 6 to the retort. In such an event, the oil accumulating in the retort and mixing chamber will flow out through the air supply pipe 12, which may incline slightly downward toward the fan 13. Adjacent the outer end of pipe 12 is a siphon loop consisting of the downwardly extending pipe 49, a bottom fitting 50, upwardly 1 extending-pipe 51, and horizontal pipe 52, so that oil flowing back through pipe 12 will be delivered through the pipes 49, 50. 51 and 52 into the hanging receptacle 53. The pipe loop 49,50 and 51 will normally be full of oil, so as to prevent the loss of air pressure through these pipes in the normal operation of the air supply fan 13. This pipe loop 49,

50 and 51 also serves as a supporting leg for the outer end of air pipe 12. As best shown in Fig. 5, the automatic shut-off valve 48 is controlled by a bell crank lever 54, from one arm of which the receptacle 53 is suspended by means of chain or other flexible connection 55. The other arm of bell crank 54 13.0

carries an adjustable weight 56 adapted to normally counter-balance the weight of the empty receptacle 53. When the oil condenses, or fails to vaporize in the .retort and mixer, it flows'back through pipe 12' and the pipe loops 49, 50, 51 and 52 into the receptacle 53, which will then over-balance the counter-weight 56 and swing this weight over to the other side of the vertical so as to close the shut-off valve 48.

A second thermostat 57 similar to the thermostat 32 is mounted inthe retort or vaporizer, 5, this thermostat 57 being adapted to automaticall control the butterfly valve 23 in the fee pipe 22 leadin to the auxiliary oil-burners 24 and 25. l ach of the thermostats 32 and 57 comprise a metallic pipe, closed at its inner end, and housing a carbon rod 58. When heated, the pipe will expand and permit the rod to be pushed further into the vaporizer. When the vaporizer cools off, the pipe will contract and push the rod out thus actuating the valve operating connections. A rockshaft 59, pivoted in a bracket 60 secured to one end of the vaporizer, carries at one end a crankarm 61 in which is mounted an adjusting screw 62 which bears, against the outer end of the rod 58. A longer crankarm 63 secured to the outer end of shaft 59 is connected through link 64 and crankarm 65 i with the outer end of the shaft 66 of the or restrict the flow. As the vaporizer cools oil, the rod 58 will be pushed out by the contracting pipe 57, and will rock the levers 61 and 63, and through link 64 rock the crank 65 and swing the valve 23 to open position. It will be apparent that this valve 23 will be automatically adjusted to different positionsas the temperature in the vaporizer varies, so as to control the heat supplied by auxiliary burners 24' and 25, thus tending to maintain a constant temperature in the vaporizer.

- In starting the operation of this appara; tus, the gas valve 36 is turned on, and the pilot light 35 and auxiliary burner 28 are lgnitedI Obviously, at this time the thermostatically control valves 31 and 23 will be open since the retort 5 is cold. Burner 28 will very soon heat the retort 5 nearly to the desired temperature, and control valve 37 is now opened to permit a flow of oil to the retort. This oil will be vaporized and mixed with the air supplied by fan 13, and the combustible mixture will flow to the main burner 2 and auxiliary burners 24 and 25, which will be ignited by the pilot light fuel to these burners being further controlled by the valve 23, and in case the temperature in the retort falls materially below that re-,

quired for vaporizing the oil, and the automatic opening of valve 23 does not cause suflicient heat to be. supplied by burners 24 and 25, the thermostat 32 will contract and permit a fiow'bf gas to the auxiliary burner 28, which will supply the necessary additional heat for bringing the retort or vaporizer up to the proper temperature. \Vhen greater heat at the furnace is required, the oil supply valve 37 will be opened, either manually, or automatically by means of thermostat 44, to permit an increased flow of oil to the vaporizer. This will increase the rate of production of vaporized oil, and there will be an increased flow of gaseous fuel to the auxiliary burners 24 and 25, as well as to the main burner 2, thereby normally furnishing the additional heat required for vaporizing the increased quantity of oil. However, if suflicient vaporizing heat is not furnished by burners 24 and 25, the gas burner will automatically be brought into action to supplement the heat applied to retort 5. As before stated, the damper 47 will be automatically opened in accordance with the opening of oil supply valve 37, so as to permit an additional supply of air from fan 13.

The vaporization of the liquid oil in the closed retort 5 creates an internal pressure, tending to force the vapor'ized oil out into the mixer 9. The flow of air under pressure supplied through pipe 12, and passing through pipe 17 to the burners also tends to draw out the vaporized oil from the retort. Perhaps there is, a back current of air from the mixer to and out of the retort. In any event, there is a steady and constant flow of combustible mixture from 'mixer 9 to the burners 2, 24 and 25,'and experience has shown that after protracted service, the retort 5 will remain clean and there will be practically no deposits of carbon or other supported from the retort through pipe conneetions 9 and 17. The auxiliary burners 24 and 25 are supported by the pipe connections 20, 22 and 27. Outside of the furnace, the oil and gas lines are supported by the pipe connections leading from the outside supply. The outer end of air supply pipe 12 is supported from the fan 13 and also from the siphon pipe loop 49, and 51.

The entire apparatus is simple and easily assembled and installed, and those portions of the apparatus located within the furnace and subjected to heat, include merely open chambers or pipe connections, there being no restricted valves or orifices which might become clogged or carbonized.

I claim:

1. In a fuel oil burner, a vaporizer, means for supplying oil thereto, a burner for heating the vaporizer, a main burner, a conduit having branches leading to the respective burners, means for forcing air through the conduit, the conduit having a branch passage leading to the vaporizer and in constantly unobstructed communication therewith, an additional auxiliary burner for heating the vaporizer, and means controlled by the temperature in the vaporizer for regulating the auxiliary burner.

2. In a fuel oil burner, a vaporizer, means for supplying oil thereto, a burner for heating the vaporizer, a main burner, a conduit having branches leading to the respective burners, means for forcing air throu h the conduit, the conduit having a branc passage leadin to the vaporizer and in constantly uno structed communication therewith, and means controlled by the temperature in the vaporizer for regulating the burner which heats the vaporizer.

3. In a fuel oil burner, a vaporizer, means for supplying oil thereto, a burner supplied with vaporized fuel from the vaporizer for continuously applying heat to the vaporizer, an auxiliary burner fed from an independent source for supplying additional heat to the vaporizer, and means controlled by the temperature at the vaporizer for regulating the amount of heat applied to the vaporizer by each of these burners.

4. In combination, a vaporizer, means for continuously applying heat to the vaporizer, auxiliary means for applying additional heat to the vaporizer independently of the first named means, and means controlled by the temperature at the vaporizer for regulating the amount of heat applied to the vaporizer by the auxiliary heating means.

5. In combination, a vaporizer, a burner supplied with vaporized fuel from the vaporizer for continuously applying heat to the vaporizer, an auxiliary burner for applying additional heat to the vaporizer, and means controlled by the temperature at the vaporizer for regulating the amount of heat applied to the vaporizer by the auxiliary burner.

6. In combination, a vaporizer, means for feeding oil to the vaporizer for vaporization therein, a burner supplied with vaporized fuel from the vaporizer for continuously applying heat to the vaporizer, means for regulating the amount of oil fed to the vaporizer thus regulating the amount of heat applied to the vaporizer by the burner, a second burner fed from an independent source for supplying additional heat to the vaporizer, and means controlled by the temperature at the vaporizer for regulating the amount of heat applied to the vaporizer by the second burner.

7. In combination, a vaporizer, means for feeding oil to the vaporizer for vaporization therein, a burner for continuously applying heat to the vaporizer, a device in communication with the vaporizer for mixing air with the vaporized fuel, a conduit connecting the mixing device with the burner, means for restricting the conduit so that the burner will normally supply just suflicient heat to the vaporizer to accomplish the vaporization of the oil, and a second burner fed from an independent source for supplying additional heat to the vaporizer when required.

8. In combination, a vaporizer, means for feeding oil to the vaporizer for vaporization therein, a burner for continuously applying heat to the vaporizer, a device in communication with the vaporizer for Inixing air with the vaporized fuel, a conduit connecting the mixing device with the burner, means for restricting the conduit so that the burner will normally supply just sufficient heat to the vaporizer to accomplish the vaporization of the oil, a second burner fed from an independent source for applying additional heat to the vaporizer, and means controlled by the temperature at the vaporizer for regulating the amount of heat applied by the second burner.

9. In combination, a vaporizer comprising means for applying heat thereto, means for feeding oil to said vaporizer for va orization therein, an automatically control ed means to regulate the amount of oil fed to said vaporizer and serving in part to regulate the amount of heat applied to said vaporizer, and other means controlled by the temperature at the vaporizer serving in part to regulate the amount of heat applied to said vaporizer.

10. In combination, a main burner, a vaporizer, comprising means for. applying heat thereto, means for feeding oil to said vaporizer to be fed as a vapor to said burner, means controlled by the temperature maintained by the main burner for artially regulating the heat applied to tiie vaporizer, and other means controlled by the temperature at the vaporizer for assisting in the regulation of the heat applied to the vaporizer.

dependent source to the other of said auxiliary burners, means for feeding oil to. said vaporizer to be fed as a vapor to said main burner and two separate means for automatically regulating the feeding of the combustible mixtures to said auxillary burners.

12. In combination, a vaporizer, a conduit for feedin oil to the vaporizer, a burner, a conduit 1n open communication with the vaporizer, means for forcing air under pres- 'sure through the last mentioned conduit, and means for simultaneously and proportionately regulating the flow of oil and air through the respective conduits.

13. In combination, a vaporizer, a conduit for feeding oil to the vaporizer, a burner, a

' conduit in open communication with the vaporizer, means for forcing air under pressure through the last mentioned conduit, valves for controlling the flow of oil and air through the respective conduits, and means for simultaneously and proportionately adjustin the valves.

14 combination, a vaporizer, a conduit for feeding oil to the vaporizer, a burner, a conduit in open communication with the vaporizer, means for forcing air under pressure through the last mentioned conduit, valves for controlling the flow of oil and air through the respective conduits, and a ther- .mostat for automatically and simultaneously adjusting the valves.

15. In combination, a vaporizer, a burner for applying heat to the vaporizer, a valve controlling the supply of fuel to the burner, a thermostat in the vaporizer, and means forcontrolling the valve from the thermostat.

16. In combination, a vaporizer, a burner for applying heat to the vaporizer, a conduit for supplying the burner with vaporized fuel from the vaporizer, a valve in the conduit, a thermostat in the vaporizer, and means for controlling the valve from the thermostat.

17. In combination, a main burner, a vaporizer comprising means for applying heat thereto, means for feeding oil to said vapor-l izer to be fed as a vapor to said burner, means controlled by the temperature maintained by the main burner for partially regulating the heat applied to the vaporizer, and other means controlled by the temperature at the vaporizer for assistingv in the regulation of the heat applied to the vaporizer.

18.- In combination, a main burner, a vaporizer comprising two auxiliary burners, means for feeding a combustible mixture to one of said auxiliary burners, means for feeding a combustible mixture from an independent source to the other of said auxiliary burners,'means for feeding oil to said vaporizer to be fed as a vapor to'said main burner, means controlled by the temperature -maintained .by the main burner for regulating the feeding of the combustible mixture to one of said auxiliary burners, and other means controlled by the temperature at the vaporizer for regulating the feeding of the combustible mixture to the other auxiliary burner.

GEORGE B. JOHNSON. 

